Ellen and Rachel – MamasOnCallhttp://mamasoncall.com
A place where two professional mamas—one a pediatrician, one a family therapist—serve up timely, reliable parenting advice with humor and compassion.Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:59:52 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.5Head Lice … Not AGAIN!!http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/head-lice-not-again-please/
http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/head-lice-not-again-please/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 08:00:38 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=14524

Dear Mamas,

My 8-year-old daughter ended the school year last year with an awful case of lice. It ran through her classroom like wildfire, and every week a new bunch of kids caught it. Just as I finally managed to get her completely lice-free (including a visit from the very expensive lice professional) she was re-infested by the latest victim. She ended up missing most of the last week of school, which was pretty much parties anyway, and was traumatized by the whole experience. Or maybe that was me who was traumatized.

Anyway, school is about to start in a few weeks and I’m dreading it. What if they come back? I’m tearing my hair out. HA! Please — share your lice secrets.

Tammy O.

Hi Tammy,

You’re right. It’s been scientifically proven that the lice monster is lurking everywhere just waiting to pounce. Not only that, it’s likely that the last living creatures on earth will be lice and cockroaches. I’m not sure which are worse. But there’s good news, too.

A new report, published in this month’s Pediatrics, comes up with a new set of recommendations for the treatment of lice in the school setting, and the big change is that they no longer recommend sending an otherwise healthy child home from school because they’ve had the big ‘L’. The authors conclude that no-nit policies for return to school should not be enforced. The reasoning is that by the time a child is diagnosed and treated, the entire class has already been exposed. Keeping the child at home won’t prevent spread. Other recommendations in the report:

* For treatment of active infestations, over-the-counter 1% permethrin or pyrethrins are recommended unless resistance has been proven in the community.

* School staff and parents should be given detailed instructions on the proper use of recommended treatments. Current permethrin or pyrethrin products are not completely ovicidal, and must be applied at least twice at proper intervals. This is also recommended if live lice persist. To prevent spread, manual removal of nits is not necessary immediately. However, nit removal may be considered in the school setting to reduce diagnostic confusion.

* Reasonable alternatives include “wet-combing” or an occlusive method, such as petroleum jelly or a mild skin cleanser. Repetition using careful technique is needed.

* Appropriate training is needed for school personnel involved in detecting head lice infestation. School officials should review lice-related policies to ensure that this goal is achieved.

* Head lice screening programs have not been shown to be cost effective or reduce the incidence of head lice in the school setting. To manage head lice in the school setting parent education programs may be helpful.

* Optimal treatments are safe and rapidly effective, easy to use, and affordable. Because lice infestation has no medical risk, treatments should prove safe to ensure that the adverse effects of therapy are not worse than the infestation.

In other news, a new oral drug called ivermectin looks promising for the treatment of resistant lice, but it should only be used when topical treatments fail. You never want to use a systemic medication when a topical one will work, since all medicines have side effects and risk.

We’re fans of some of the more recent occlusive treatments that smother the little buggers without the use of strong insecticides, so take a look at this recent MOC post for the latest info on that front. Our bottom line with lice? Try to stay calm — they won’t harm you or your daughter, they’re just gross. Start with the most benign, least toxic treatment and work your way up from there. And if it helps to hire the expensive Nice Lice Lady, and you can afford it, by all means go for it. Consider it a quality of life issue.

Good luck!

~ The Mamas

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/head-lice-not-again-please/feed/0The Five Second Rule: True Or False?http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/the-five-second-rule-true-or-false/
http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/the-five-second-rule-true-or-false/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 08:00:31 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=12353A study conducted at Clemson University found that the five second rule, although dear to all of our hearts, is simply not true.

This study proved that food that lands on the floor or tabletop picks up germs even if it is retrieved in under five seconds. Viruses and bacteria grab on the minute they make contact. They do not wait around for five seconds before hopping aboard.

DRAT! And the longer that cookie or cracker sits there, the more bacteria will grow on it. Microbes, as we know, are invisible to the naked eye. So even though your floor may look pristine, it can be teeming with e.coli and other foul, icky stuff that has been tracked in from our shoes or fallen from above.

Some of them will do us no harm but others can make us (and our children) quite sick. So, unless you are willing to risk serious illness from some nasty virus or bacteria, you’re just going to have to toss it. You might decide to ignore this bit of information, but if worse comes to worse, you can’t say we didn’t tell you!

This is a very cute and extremely easy way to turn that juice box into something special that says BOO and Happy Halloween. Take a look here!

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/mummy-juice-boxes/feed/0Should Parents Let Kids Drink?http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/should-parents-let-kids-drink/
http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/should-parents-let-kids-drink/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 08:00:00 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=21583You may be very surprised by what you learn from this short video with Dr. Drew.

In case you’re not convinced that underage drinking poses a threat or need ammo to present to your kids or to the parents of their friends, take a minute to check this out. Knowledge is POWER!!

Pay particular attention to what the good doctor has to say about the “European Model” of drinking. Verrrrrry interesting!

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2017/10/should-parents-let-kids-drink/feed/0Does My Squirming, Jumping, Always-Moving Pre-Schooler Have ADHD?http://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/does-my-squirming-jumping-always-moving-pre-schooler-have-adhd/
http://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/does-my-squirming-jumping-always-moving-pre-schooler-have-adhd/#respondThu, 06 Jul 2017 08:00:20 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=2008Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that affects school age children and is characterized by the presence of AT LEAST six of the following:

* Has difficulty following instructions
* Has difficulty keeping attention on work or play activities
* Loses things needed for activities at school and at home
* Appears not to listen
* Doesn’t pay close attention to details
* Seems disorganized
* Has trouble with tasks that require planning ahead
* Forgets things
* Is easily distracted

These children are often much more active and impulsive than usual for their age, giving them the bad rap of being ‘difficult’ or ‘behavior problems’. It is more common in boys than girls, and is diagnosed in between 4% and 12% of school-age children in the US, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The causes of ADHD are complex and poorly understood, and its diagnosis and treatment are often controversial, but that’s NOT what I’m here to talk about. What I want you to know is that a diagnosis of ADHD is only appropriately considered in children of SCHOOL AGE. We’re not talking about pre-school or kindergarten, we’re talking about elementary school when kids are developmentally expected to sit still and pay attention.

Any talk of ADHD in a child under the age of 6 or 7 just does not jive with their developmental stage. Particularly for boys, whose developmental clock ticks at a different rate than girls’. Pre-schoolers from 3 – 6 are just discovering how their bodies interact with the outside world they’re being introduced to.

Their pliable little brains and neuronal connections are growing by leaps and bounds — so fast you can almost see it happening. What an exciting and energetic place to be! It’s no wonder they may have it rough sitting quietly in ‘Circle Time’. If you do find them sitting still you can bet they’re accompanying their play with engine noises or special effects.

If you watch a 3 or 4 year old involved in even a ‘quiet’ activity, like drawing or imaginative pretend play, you’ll often notice that they’re narrating as they go. They need to share the story and experience the reaction. They learn through the interaction of their small inside world and the big outside world. It’s not time yet to sit still and keep it in.

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/does-my-squirming-jumping-always-moving-pre-schooler-have-adhd/feed/0Keep ‘Em Healthy When You Hit The Roadhttp://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/keep-em-healthy-when-you-hit-the-road/
http://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/keep-em-healthy-when-you-hit-the-road/#respondThu, 06 Jul 2017 08:00:18 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=22826Family vacations offer important together time and priceless memories for you and your gang, but don’t let your summer trip get derailed by unexpected illness.

1. Do your homework. Know where you’re headed and be aware of regional risks that could lay you low. If you’re traveling overseas check to see if kids need vaccines or medicines to protect against endemic illness. Know which foods to avoid (especially street vendor stuff). Check out the CDC website online or call your doctor for referral to a travel clinic. Don’t depend on word of mouth from friends and family whose information may be out of date.

2. Fly smart. It’s no joke — air travel is one of the surest ways to come down with a cold or worse, and it’s not recirculating air that’s the culprit. Microbes live for hours to days, and almost everything on board has been touched by lots of big and little hands before you. No one’s wiping those drop-down trays with Purell, I guarrantee it, so bring along your own sanitizing wipes and give surfaces a few swipes as you buckle up. Don’t forget my secret weapon — wash hands often for as long as it takes to sing the birthday song!

3. Don’t forget the summer basics. Too much sun, an accidental run-in with poison ivy or oak, or overdoing it in hot weather may not seem like a big deal, but they can mess up a vacation before you can say DISNEYWORLD. Use plenty of sunscreen, watch exposure, and hydrate. Stay on top of new rules about sunscreen labeling and the dangers of portable kiddie pools. No one wants to be stuck in the hotel room with a kiddo recovering from heat stroke when you could be out having fun.

4. Avoid motion sickness. That scenic drive up the mountain or a sunset sail can turn sour pretty quickly with a little barfer on board. Gear up with preventive wristbands (they really do work) or OTC non-drowsy Bonine and start at least 30 minutes before launch time to maximize effectiveness.

5. Bring supplies. Know your kiddo’s tendencies and be prepared. If Susie is a sitting duck for swimmer’s ear, ask your doc for a prescription to bring along just in case. If Junior gets stopped up whenever he eats junk food, pack a natural stool softener to help move things along.

6. Expect the unexpected. Map out where to go in case of emergency once you’re at your destination. Know where the nearest ER or urgent care clinic is located. Many hotels have arrangements with local doctors, some will even make house calls to your room. Better to know them and not need them, than to need them and not know them.

Happy Travels!

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2017/07/keep-em-healthy-when-you-hit-the-road/feed/0Trade Ya!http://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/trade-ya/
http://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/trade-ya/#commentsTue, 27 Dec 2016 08:00:38 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=22019Throughout the early parenting years two things are always in short supply: time and money. But there’s one other thing that you always have plenty of: exhaustion.

Those munchkins are definitely cute and being a mom is incredibly fun and satisfying. And we wouldn’t trade it for the world. But let’s be honest, most days it’s hard to figure out how to get everything (or anything) done.

Moms are all in the same boat with this one. But you might not know that there is a way to lighten your load and pick up your spirits at the same time. It’s easy — just find a friend from the neighborhood and work out a trade.

When my brood was young, I had a neighbor with kids around the same age. We both felt bogged down by the endless trips to the grocery store and the free-for-all that often accompanied our efforts to get a meal on the table each night.

So we decided to help each other out by cooking dinner for each other’s families once a week. I would make double of whatever I was cooking one night and bring half to her around suppertime and she would do the same on another night.

We kept the meals simple and family friendly and it made the weekly cooking thing a lot more fun and the food more interesting, too. The kids got into the action as well, and loved helping with the prep work and packing everything up to bring to our neighbors.

Then, because the dinner thing worked so well, we decided to expand our sharing to date night, too. No, we didn’t share each other’s husbands, but we did trade babysitting duties once a month. Suddenly, that all important night out didn’t seem like such an expensive, difficult thing to negotiate.

In fact, it worked like magic. Having that plan in place not only guaranteed us each a kid-free night out with our spouse, it also allowed us to be able to go in peace, knowing that our children were with an adult who they knew and we trusted.

This little pearl can change your life in a small but powerful way by giving you some all-important support. Trading dinners and babysitting not only relieved me of some of the tedium and expense that goes hand-in-hand with raising kids, it also brought me closer to my friend and helped to cement our friendship, which continues to this day even though we live many, many miles away from each other.

So try it out. Start with a plan to trade dinners once a week for a month and see how it goes. If it works, you can keep it going and add the babysitting piece, too.

If it’s a flop, you can just say you are too disorganized to make the commitment. Either way, you have nothing to lose and lots to gain.

]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/trade-ya/feed/1News U Can Use: Becoming A Big Brother/Sisterhttp://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/news-u-can-use-becoming-a-big-brothersister/
http://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/news-u-can-use-becoming-a-big-brothersister/#respondTue, 27 Dec 2016 08:00:19 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=32741Many big sisters (and brothers) worry that Mommy will give all her love to the new baby and there won’t be any left for her. Here’s how to reassure them that your heart has plenty for everyone!
]]>http://mamasoncall.com/2016/12/news-u-can-use-becoming-a-big-brothersister/feed/0Mother’s Love Changes a Child’s Brainhttp://mamasoncall.com/2016/10/mothers-love-changes-a-childs-brain/
http://mamasoncall.com/2016/10/mothers-love-changes-a-childs-brain/#respondThu, 06 Oct 2016 08:00:25 +0000http://mamasoncall.com/?p=27036It’s not like we didn’t know, but it always helps when research provides medical evidence for what we thought all along.

Investigators at Washington University in St. Louis studied brain images of children who participated in a project focused on early onset depression in young children. As part of the project, Dr. Joan Luby and her colleagues measured the maternal support that children — who were ages 3 to 6 and had either symptoms of depression, other psychiatric disorders or no mental health problems — were given during a task.

The researchers placed mother and child in a room along with an attractively wrapped gift and a survey that the mother had to fill out. The children were told they could not open the present until five minutes had passed — basically until their mothers had finished the survey. Psychiatrists rated the amount of support the mothers gave to their children.

For example, a mother who was very supportive might console her child, explaining that the child had only a few more minutes to wait and that she understands the situation was frustrating. The task gave researchers an idea of how much support the child was typically receiving at home.

Four years later the researchers gave MRI brain scans to 92 children who underwent the waiting task. Compared with children with high maternal support, children with low support had smaller hippocampal regions, the part of the brain known to be important for learning, memory and stress responses. Results were consistent for children with symptoms of mental health problems and those without.

Though most of the parents in the study were biological mothers, the researchers say that the effects of nurturing on the brain are likely to be the same for any primary caregiver.

“It’s now clear that a caregiver’s nurturing is not only good for the development of the child, but it actually physically changes the brain,” Luby said. She and her team will continue following the children as they grow older, and plan to see how other brain regions are affected by parental nurturing during preschool years.

Take home message for Mamas looking to maximize smarts: love on ’em lots and lots. More nurturing = smarter, happier kids!